Long on Target For Ireland

11 September 2019

Kevin Long was on target and Jeff Hendrick earned his 50th Irish cap as a number of Clarets players have again been away on international duty.

Defender Long memorably grabbed his first international goal as Ireland beat Bulgaria in a friendly at the AVIVA Stadium on Tuesday night, with Hendrick appearing as a late substitute five days after clocking up a half century of caps for his country in Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland, again in Dublin, which ended 0-0.

The 27-year-old has represented his country at every level since breaking out at U15 level, scoring two senior goals in an international career spanning six years; the last coming in the 1-0 win over Gibraltar in March.

Northern Ireland goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell played both games at Windsor Park, including a man-of-the-match performance in the unfortunate 0-2 defeat to Germany.

That brought to an end Ireland’s four-game winning streak at the start of Euro 2020 qualifying, and came following a 1-0 friendly win over Luxembourg for Michael O’Neill’s side.

Fellow Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope was an unused substitute in both of England’s qualifying wins over Bulgaria at Wembley, and Kosovo at Southampton's St Mary’s Stadium.

Finally, Nahki Wells was on target twice to steer Bermuda to a historic victory over Panama and reignite their Concacaf Nations League campaign.

The Clarets striker, currently on a season-long loan at QPR, struck in each half to help his country bounce back from a 4-1 home defeat to the same opposition four days earlier.

Kyle Lightbourne’s side now face Mexico at home on October 11 and away on November 19 in their remaining group B fixtures of League A.